THE trial of six members of the notorious Bush Boys gang brought to light the seedy and violent drug-dealing underbelly of Basildon.

While some refuse to think about the drugs being peddled on the borough’s streets, for many residents – thanks to the gang – that reality has been brought to their doorstep.

The Bush Boys, who are predominantly of Somalian descent, hail from the Shepherd’s Bush area of London, hence their street name.

They have plagued the South East and parts of Essex for several years, but they first began plying their trade on the streets of Basildon about seven years ago.

Det Chief Insp Stuart Smith, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said he believed the gang targeted Basildon due to its good transport links with London and its large population, providing the gang with a ready-made market.

He said: “If you look at the places the gang targeted, it’s largely substantial urban areas.

“There is intelligence around the Bush Boys operating in big towns because there is profit there.

“In any large town, there is a drug-taking community. No one would be naive enough to say there wasn’t such a community in Basildon.”

One of the gang’s trademarks – and how they gained a stronghold in the borough – is that they preyed on vulnerable residents.

The gang sought out addicts using their habit to manipulate them into becoming pawns in the dealers’ criminal enterprise.

In exchange for supplying their targets with drugs, the gang would move into an addict’s home, using it as a headquarters.

In some cases the gang dealt from the homes of their addicts, while in others they used the properties to store drugs or weapons.

They dealt from locations including underpasses, hotels, the back of well-used shops and even in children’s playgrounds.

The Echo has accompanied police on several raids as officers arrested gang members and secured Crack House Closure Orders, which allowed police to shut down homes used for dealing.

Although the tactic appeared to work temporarily, police found themselves engaged in a constant cat and mouse battle to stop the gang flooding Basildon with Class A drugs.

With every arrest of a gang member, another Bush Boy was waiting to ensure the gang continued to peddle their wares.

The gang even sent daily text messages to local addicts to promote special offers of heroin and crack cocaine.

Det Chief Insp Smith said: “They were a highly-organised crime gang and they made a lot of money from what they did.

“They operated a mobile phone number which they used to organise their drug deals.

“But if a member of the gang was arrested with that mobile phone in their possession literally, within hours, while they were still in custody, that number would be reactivated by another member of the gang and they would continue to sell drugs.”

In the summer of 2012, as police continued to battle daily to curb the gang’s activities, a rise in the violence associated with the Bush Boys prompted police to take drastic action. There was a sharp rise in the number of aggravated burglaries – where crooks force their way into a person’s home and commit violence or use weapons – across Basildon.

Members of the gang wielding guns and knives forced their way into the homes of not only rival dealers, to mark their territory, and addicts who owed them money, but innocent residents.

It was against this frightening backdrop that Essex Police launched an undercover crackdown targeting the gang, codenamed Operation Kilo.

Under the operation, which ran from June to November 2012, undercover officers posing as addicts were sent in to infiltrate the Bush Boys.

Over a five-month period they gathered damning evidence on the Bush Boys, including gang leaders, as the crooks unwittingly took part indrug deals with undercover police.

It was during one such transaction, in November 2012, involving an undercover cop known as Deano, when things went dramaticallywrong.

The gang became suspicious and, duringaviolent interrogation at one of their bases in Roodegate, discovered his secret camera.

After being savagely beaten, the officer made the brave decision to jump from the first floor window and escape with his life.

That officer’s bravery brought the world crashing down around the ears of six keymembers of the gang.

They included Bush Boy kingpin Mohammed Hassan, his girlfriend and his lieutenants Ross Bannister, Thomas Symons and Romy Bullen.

Under Operation Kilo, police smashed a hole through the heart of the Bush Boys, arresting more than 100 people, raiding hundreds of homes across Essex and London.

They charged 42 people with a range of drug related offences and saw a large number of those locked behind bars.

For Det Chief Insp Smith Operation Kilo has beenamassive success in the war on drugs.

He added: “This has made a significant impact on the Bush Boys’ criminal enterprise.”

Comments

[deleted]
6:34am Thu 23 Jan 14

[deleted]

Shame it had to end for them. They were doing really well. Seems they got a bit greedy though and a bit personal with the burglaries. If only they were more careful and kept more of a watchful eye. Hope they are released soon. Chin up boys.On Benefits & Proud

Shame it had to end for them. They were doing really well. Seems they got a bit greedy though and a bit personal with the burglaries. If only they were more careful and kept more of a watchful eye. Hope they are released soon. Chin up boys.

Score: -17

[deleted]
7:41am Thu 23 Jan 14

[deleted]

[quote][p][bold]On Benefits & Proud[/bold] wrote:
Shame it had to end for them. They were doing really well. Seems they got a bit greedy though and a bit personal with the burglaries. If only they were more careful and kept more of a watchful eye. Hope they are released soon. Chin up boys.[/p][/quote]You’re up early, or haven’t you been to bed yet?angryofessex

On Benefits & Proud wrote…

Shame it had to end for them. They were doing really well. Seems they got a bit greedy though and a bit personal with the burglaries. If only they were more careful and kept more of a watchful eye. Hope they are released soon. Chin up boys.

You’re up early, or haven’t you been to bed yet?

Score: 5

[deleted]
8:07am Thu 23 Jan 14

[deleted]

[quote][p][bold]angryofessex[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]On Benefits & Proud[/bold] wrote:
Shame it had to end for them. They were doing really well. Seems they got a bit greedy though and a bit personal with the burglaries. If only they were more careful and kept more of a watchful eye. Hope they are released soon. Chin up boys.[/p][/quote]You’re up early, or haven’t you been to bed yet?[/p][/quote]I'm not you'r average benefit claimant. I lead a sober lifestyle, and spend most days at the gym, which is of course, you guessed it, payed for by all those hardworkers. Including yourself im guessing?On Benefits & Proud

angryofessex wrote…

On Benefits & Proud wrote…

Shame it had to end for them. They were doing really well. Seems they got a bit greedy though and a bit personal with the burglaries. If only they were more careful and kept more of a watchful eye. Hope they are released soon. Chin up boys.

You’re up early, or haven’t you been to bed yet?

I'm not you'r average benefit claimant. I lead a sober lifestyle, and spend most days at the gym, which is of course, you guessed it, payed for by all those hardworkers. Including yourself im guessing?

Score: -8

[deleted]
10:53am Thu 23 Jan 14

[deleted]

[quote][p][bold]On Benefits & Proud[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]angryofessex[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]On Benefits & Proud[/bold] wrote:
Shame it had to end for them. They were doing really well. Seems they got a bit greedy though and a bit personal with the burglaries. If only they were more careful and kept more of a watchful eye. Hope they are released soon. Chin up boys.[/p][/quote]You’re up early, or haven’t you been to bed yet?[/p][/quote]I'm not you'r average benefit claimant. I lead a sober lifestyle, and spend most days at the gym, which is of course, you guessed it, payed for by all those hardworkers. Including yourself im guessing?[/p][/quote]This is like being trolled by a 5 year old. Put some effort in, you could at least try a touch of subtlety.Chris Flunk

On Benefits & Proud wrote…

angryofessex wrote…

On Benefits & Proud wrote…

Shame it had to end for them. They were doing really well. Seems they got a bit greedy though and a bit personal with the burglaries. If only they were more careful and kept more of a watchful eye. Hope they are released soon. Chin up boys.

You’re up early, or haven’t you been to bed yet?

I'm not you'r average benefit claimant. I lead a sober lifestyle, and spend most days at the gym, which is of course, you guessed it, payed for by all those hardworkers. Including yourself im guessing?

This is like being trolled by a 5 year old. Put some effort in, you could at least try a touch of subtlety.

Score: 7

RobertFS
12:25pm Thu 23 Jan 14

perhaps it would be a good idea to force these thugs to swallow any drugs in their pocession. i wonder what the outcome would be?

perhaps it would be a good idea to force these thugs to swallow any drugs in their pocession. i wonder what the outcome would be?RobertFS

perhaps it would be a good idea to force these thugs to swallow any drugs in their pocession. i wonder what the outcome would be?

Score: 4

RobertFS
12:29pm Thu 23 Jan 14

RobertFS wrote…

perhaps it would be a good idea to force these thugs to swallow any drugs in their pocession. i wonder what the outcome would be?

sorry - 'possession'

[quote][p][bold]RobertFS[/bold] wrote:
perhaps it would be a good idea to force these thugs to swallow any drugs in their pocession. i wonder what the outcome would be?[/p][/quote]sorry - 'possession'RobertFS

RobertFS wrote…

perhaps it would be a good idea to force these thugs to swallow any drugs in their pocession. i wonder what the outcome would be?

sorry - 'possession'

Score: 0

Howard Cháse
12:32pm Thu 23 Jan 14

RobertFS wrote…

RobertFS wrote…

perhaps it would be a good idea to force these thugs to swallow any drugs in their pocession. i wonder what the outcome would be?

sorry - 'possession'

Hammer a pine cone stalk end first up their jacksie ....

[quote][p][bold]RobertFS[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]RobertFS[/bold] wrote:
perhaps it would be a good idea to force these thugs to swallow any drugs in their pocession. i wonder what the outcome would be?[/p][/quote]sorry - 'possession'[/p][/quote]Hammer a pine cone stalk end first up their jacksie ....Howard Cháse

RobertFS wrote…

RobertFS wrote…

perhaps it would be a good idea to force these thugs to swallow any drugs in their pocession. i wonder what the outcome would be?

sorry - 'possession'

Hammer a pine cone stalk end first up their jacksie ....

Score: 3

[deleted]
1:29pm Thu 23 Jan 14

[deleted]

[quote][p][bold]On Benefits & Proud[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]angryofessex[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]On Benefits & Proud[/bold] wrote:
Shame it had to end for them. They were doing really well. Seems they got a bit greedy though and a bit personal with the burglaries. If only they were more careful and kept more of a watchful eye. Hope they are released soon. Chin up boys.[/p][/quote]You’re up early, or haven’t you been to bed yet?[/p][/quote]I'm not you'r average benefit claimant. I lead a sober lifestyle, and spend most days at the gym, which is of course, you guessed it, payed for by all those hardworkers. Including yourself im guessing?[/p][/quote]I'm going to bite here. Troll or not, everyone who reads anything from you knows that actually you are a really sad little person. Whether you are on 100k a year, or genuinely on benefits, you must have absolutely no life what so ever to be on here writing this unsubtle provocative nonsense. Tell me your not actually gratified by making such posts? lol Jesus, I pity you. We all do. I'm not angry, I just want you to know in your heart that you're an A1 wally.Dan_

On Benefits & Proud wrote…

angryofessex wrote…

On Benefits & Proud wrote…

Shame it had to end for them. They were doing really well. Seems they got a bit greedy though and a bit personal with the burglaries. If only they were more careful and kept more of a watchful eye. Hope they are released soon. Chin up boys.

You’re up early, or haven’t you been to bed yet?

I'm not you'r average benefit claimant. I lead a sober lifestyle, and spend most days at the gym, which is of course, you guessed it, payed for by all those hardworkers. Including yourself im guessing?

I'm going to bite here. Troll or not, everyone who reads anything from you knows that actually you are a really sad little person. Whether you are on 100k a year, or genuinely on benefits, you must have absolutely no life what so ever to be on here writing this unsubtle provocative nonsense. Tell me your not actually gratified by making such posts? lol Jesus, I pity you. We all do. I'm not angry, I just want you to know in your heart that you're an A1 wally.

Score: 3

ricardo62
3:17pm Thu 23 Jan 14

hes just a nonentity with a insecurity problem , prob abused as a child and has to post stupid remarks to boost his ego , but dnt be angry with him just pity him ...

hes just a nonentity with a insecurity problem , prob abused as a child and has to post stupid remarks to boost his ego , but dnt be angry with him just pity him ...ricardo62

hes just a nonentity with a insecurity problem , prob abused as a child and has to post stupid remarks to boost his ego , but dnt be angry with him just pity him ...

Score: 2

iknowbetter
3:43pm Thu 23 Jan 14

ricardo62 wrote…

hes just a nonentity with a insecurity problem , prob abused as a child and has to post stupid remarks to boost his ego , but dnt be angry with him just pity him ...

Exactly and after all every Village has one..

[quote][p][bold]ricardo62[/bold] wrote:
hes just a nonentity with a insecurity problem , prob abused as a child and has to post stupid remarks to boost his ego , but dnt be angry with him just pity him ...[/p][/quote]Exactly and after all every Village has one..iknowbetter

ricardo62 wrote…

hes just a nonentity with a insecurity problem , prob abused as a child and has to post stupid remarks to boost his ego , but dnt be angry with him just pity him ...

Ipsoregulated

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